January 5, 2009

MBB: EKPERIGIN EARNS THIRD CONSECUTIVE NE-10 WEEKLY HONOR

South Easton, Mass. - Le Moyne College junior forward Laurence Ekperigin (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y./Walter Panas) has earned Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball co-player of the week honors, as announced by the conference office on Monday, Jan. 5. Ekperigin shares the honors with junior guard Darren Duncan of Merrimack, whom the Dolphins face on Thursday.

Ekperigin, named the conference's player of the week for the third consecutive week and for the fourth time in five weeks, averaged 22 points, 12 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game, while shooting at a 90.5-percent clip, in a pair of victories. Ekperigin, who has registered six consecutive double-doubles and five straight 20-point, 10-rebound performances, scored 24 points (19 in the second half) on 11-of-11 shooting, grabbed 12 rebounds and blocked two shots in a 91-74 come-from-behind victory at Felician on Dec. 29. In the second half of the victory, Ekperigin pulled down his 600th career rebound, becoming the 16th Dolphin to achieve the feat.

On Saturday, Jan. 3, Ekperigin tallied 20 points, 12 rebounds and blocked three shots in a 70-53 home win over conference-foe Southern New Hampshire. With a pair of made free throws at the 17:36 mark of the first half, Ekperigin became the 35th player in Le Moyne's history to score 1,000 points. In addition, Ekperigin became just the 13th player in Le Moyne history to record 1,000 points and 600 rebounds. In the Dolphins' five-game win streak, Ekperigin is averaging 24.8 points, 12.2 rebounds, 2.6 blocks and is shooting at an 84.5-percent clip.

Le Moyne (7-5, NE-10 4-4) returns to action on Tuesday at UMass Lowell at 7:30 p.m.